Arc suppressor



Feb. 21, 1933. J. G. JACKSON ET AL. 2

ARC SUP-PRESSOR Filed Oct. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 1%? m a ace. 671

ATTORNEYS 'Feb- 1933- J. G. JACKSON ET AL 1,893,123

ARC SUPPRESSOR Filed Oct. 28. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvzu-roms' 56/1 6. J43! c l: on "22214097 22 en ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED- STATES PATENT, OFFICE JOHN G. JACKSON AND WALLACE T. ALLEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOBS TO- SQUARE 1) COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN ARC SUPPBESSOR Application filed October 28, 1929. Serial No. 408,024..

This'invention relates generally to apparatus for making and breaking a circuit, and more particularly to means associated w th apparatus of the above character for su pressing the are caused upon breaking t e circuit.

The invention, while capable of use in connection with various types of make and break apparatus finds particular utility when used in connection with throw switches commonly known in the trade as knife switches, and to this end the invention consists inthe rovision of arc suppressing plates attacha le to the opposed knife contacting j aws of the switch and spaced apart sufiiciently to receive the knife ortions therebetween.

A furt er advanta eous feature of the present invention which contributes materialy to the commercial value and acceptability of the invention, resides in thenovel and expeditious manner in which the arc suppressing plates may be attached to the conven tional jaws of the switch without replacing any of the parts thereof.

The foregoing object may various specific constructions, some of whic are illustrated in the accompanying draw in wherein:

lgure 1 is a side elevational view of a switch equipped with are su p'ressors constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fi re 2 is a plan view of the arc-suppressor p ates showing the same in assembled relation with the blade contact clip.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated'by the line 4-4 of Fi re 2. Figure 5 is also a sectional view ta en on the plane indicated by the line 5-'5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the arc suppressing plates.

Figure 7 is'a perspective view of the blade contact clip.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a slightly modified form of construction.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the construction shown in Figure 8.

be obtained -b Figures 10, and 11 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 10 -'10-and 1111 of Fi ure 9.

igure 12 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 12-12 of Fig v ure 11.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the arc suppressor plates 5 and Figure 14 is a perspective view of the plate contact clip.

Referring 'now to the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, the numeral 15 designates a throw switch of any suitable construction comprising a blade 16 having one end thereof pivotally mounted as at 17 to a lug 18 and having a portion intermediate the ends thereof engageable with a contact member19. As shown in Figure 7, the contact member is sub stantially U-shaped havin laterally spaced legs 20 return bent towar each other as at 21 to form contacting jaws 22 for clamping the switch blade therebetween.

\Vhen switches of the above character are used on high voltage lines, it is highly desirable that some means be provided for suppressing the arc caused when disconnecting the blade 16 from the. contact jaws. In the present invention, this is accomplished by securing two plates, 23 and 24 to the clip 19 in spaced relation to each other so as to permit the passage of the blade 16 therebetween. The plates project a substantial distance be-- yond the jaws 22 of the clip so that when disconnecting the blade'16 from the jaws, the are caused thereby will be confined and suppressed by the ad acent surfaces of the plates 23 and 24., In detail, the plates 23 and24 are -forxned intermediate their op osite edges with elongated slots 25 for receiving the re turn curved portions 21 of the jaws. The arrangement is such as to osition the lower ortions 27 of the plates intermediate the -]8.WS 21 and. the adjacent faces of the legs 20 and to permit the upper portions 28 of the plates to project a su stantial distance beyond the up er edges pf the jaws.

n order-to secure the plates 23 and 24 to the contact member 19 and at the same time insure proper'clearance between the plates for the blade, the end portions of the jaws 22 are flared outwardly as indicated at 29 in Figures 5 and 7 so as to engage within corresponding recesses 30 formed in the plates 23 and 24 adjacent the bottom thereof. The recesses 30 are so fashioned asto form the shoulders 31 engageable with the edges of flared ortions 29, thereby restricting movement 0 the lates relative to the 'aws. Thus it will be 0 served that longitu inal movement of the plates relative to the jaws is restricted in one direction by engagement of the curved portions 21 of the jaws with the rear ,walls 32 of the slots 26 and in the other direction by the engagement of the flared portions 29 with the shoulders 31 formed on the jaws and plates 23 and 24 res ectivel The construction is such, however, that whi e the plates 23 and 24 are secured to the contact member 19 by thej aws 22, they are permitted of slight angular movements relative to each other and to the clip so as not to bind and lmfiflil' the operation of the switch.

7 eferrin now to the modified form of construction ustrated inFi res 8 to 14 inclusive,-it will be noted tl ih t the only material differences between this construction and the one previously described are first, that the arc suppressing plates 33 and 34 in the modified form of construction are normally resiliently maintained in engagement with the innersurfaces 35 of the contactin 'aws 36 by means of.the leaf s rin 37 carrie by the lower portions 38 oft e p ates; and second, that the plates 33 and 34 are provided with inwardly extending'portions 39 arranged in 'uxtaposition to each other so as to rovide in effect a separable wall 40 arrange to out ofi the path of the are direct to the blade and thereby snuff the arc before it has a chance to dama e the blade.

Thus from t e foregoing it will be aparent that we have provided means for con- Enm and suppressing the-arc of a knife switc distin shed by its simplicity of construction an the expeditious manner in which it may be implied to switches as now commercially ro need without materiall altering or re acin g any of the parts thereo What we 0 aim as our invention is: 1. A switch having in combination, a move I able blade, a contact member havinfi aws for the contact mem engaging a portion of the blade, an pressin plates arranged to (permit passa e of the ads therebetween an having shou ders thereon engageable with portions of said jaws for securing'the plates in assembled position upon the contac member.

2. A switch having in combination, a movable blade, a contact member having aws for engaging a portion of 'the blade, arc suppressing plates arran ed in spaced relation upon er to permit free passage of the blade therebetween and havingshoulders, and means for holding said platesin position arc supupon the contact member including portions upon said jaws flared into engagement with the shoulders on the respective plates.

3. A switch having in combination, a pivotally mounted blade, a substantially U- shaped contact member having leg portions return bent" toward each other at the outer ends thereof and terminating in laterally spaced ortions for reception therebetween of the lads aforesaid, lates arranged in spaced relation to each ot er having portions interposed between the portions aforesaid and the respective legs of the U-shaped contact member and having other portions arranged in alignment with and in the plane of the first mentioned ortions of the lates and extend ing beyon the first mentioned portions to form are suppressing surfaces.

4. A switch having in combination, a movable blade, a contact member havin jaws for receiving a portion of the blade, an arc suppressing means carried by the contact memer and includin lates arranged to permit assa e of the b a e therebetween and having s oulders thereon, and shoulders upon said jaws en ageable with the shoulders aforesaidfor hol ing the plates in assembled position upon the contact member.

5. A switch having in combination, a pivotally mounted blade, a contact member having jaws for receiving a portion of the blade, and arc suppressing lates arranged to permit passage of the b having spaced shoulders thereon enga cable with spaced portions of the jaws-to ho d the plates in pro r assembled relation upon the contact mem er.

6. A switch having in combination, a movable blade, a substantially U-shaped contact member having leg portions return bent toward each other at the outer ends thereof and ads therebetween and terminating in contact portions for engaging are suppressing surfacesi and yieldable means interposed between the egs of the U-shap ed contact member and plates for urging portions of the latter into engagement with each other.

7. A switch having in combination, a movable blade, acontact member having aws for engaging a portion of the blade therebetween, arc su pressing plates carried by sa d Saws in ju aposition to each otherand yiel able means on agin portions of said contact member and p ates or normall urging the latter into engagement with sai jaws.

8. A switch havingin combination, a movable blade, a substantially U shaped contact member having leg portions return bent toturn ward each other at the outer ends thereof and termlnatin in contact jaws for engaging the blade there tween, plates arranged in spaced relation to each other having portions mterposed between the contact portions aforesaid and the respective legs of theU-shaped contact member and having other portions arranged in alignment with'and in the plane of the portions aforesaid of the plates to form are suppressing surfaces, and means associated with the plates and legs of the U-shaped contact member for pressing portions of the plates together and'for res1sting separation thereof when a blade is received between the aws.

9. A switch having in combination, a'movable blade, a substantially U-shaped contact member having leg portions curved inwardly toward each other and terminating in downwardly extending portions for receivv ing therebetween a portion of said blade, and are suppressing plates having slots therein intermediate opposite ends thereof receiving the inwardly curved portions of the contact member whereby portions oft-said plates extend beyond the contact member and other portions ofsaid plates extend between the legs of the U-shaped contact member and the downwardly extending portions aforesaid.

' 10. A switch having in combination, a mov-' able blade, a contact member having jaws for receiving a portion of the blade, arc suppressing plates'arranged to permit passage of the b'ade therebetween, cooperating shoulders upon the jaws and pa'tes for engaging each other to hold the plates in assembled position upon the jaws, and yieldable means acting upon said plates to normally hold said shoulders in engagement.

11. A switch having in combination, a mov-v able blade, a contact member having jaws for receiving a portion ofthe blade and provided with outwardly flared portions, and means for suppressing the are caused by movement of the blade out of engagement with said 'aws, said means including plates formed of ln'sulatin material arranged'upon opposite sides of t e path of travel ofthe blade and having notched portions for receiving 'the flared portions aforesaid of the j awsto hold the plates in assembled relation with the jaws. 12. In combination, a substantially U- shaped member having the. arms of the U re bent inwardly and providing substantially arallel switchic'ontacts, and substantially Eat plates of insulating material having slots intermediate their :ends receiving the return bent portions aforesaid, and having the inner end portions thereof between the arms and the inturned portions aforesaid, whereby the outer end portions of the plates will be spaced uniformly apart to function as 13. n combination, a air'ofsubstantially member receiving said lates, having portions extending through said lates and havin other portions upon the mner sides of sai plates constituting switch contacts and cooperating with the sides of the U to maint-aln uniform spacing between said plates.

14. In an electric switch, a fixed contact element having movable portions, a movable contact element having means for engaging the movable portions of the fixed element, and plates of insulating material forming a constantly open ath 1n the direction of travel of the movab e element for the are created upon movement of said element relative to the fixed element said plates being mounted directly upon and carried solely by the movable portions of the fixed contact element so as to be movable with such portions relative to each other, and'bein constructed and arranged in such a way t at they will confine and direct the arc in the plane of movement of the movableelement.

15. In an electric switch, a fixed contact element having movable portions, a movable contact element havin means for engagin the movable portions 0 the fixed element, anr plates of insulating material interlocked with the movable portions of the fixed contact element so as to be movable therewith toward and away from each other, said plates being constructed and arranged to provide a constantly open path in the plane of travel of the movable element for the arc created upon movement of said movabe element from the fixed element and tending to confine and direct .the arc so as to prevent back and lateral fastening.

16. In an electric switch, a fixed contact element, a movable contact element having means for engaginga part of the fixed element, and means effective upon movement of the movable element relative to the fixed element to provide a path in the plane of travel of said movable'element for the are created and tending toconfineand direct the same so as to prevent back and lateral flashing, including means under the control of and carried solely by the fixed contact element aforesaid 17 Inan-electric switch, a fixed contact element, a movable contact element having means for engaging a part of the fixed element, and means. effective upon movement of the movable element relative to the fixed element to provide a path in the plane of travel.,of said movable element for the are created and. tending to confine and direct the same so as to prevent back and lateral flashing, including plates of insulating material having means receiving parts of the fixed contact element aforesaid.

18. In an electric switch, a fixed contact element having movable portions, a movable contact element having means engageable with said movable portions, and means efiective upon movement of the movable element relative to the fixed element to provide a ath for the are created and tending to conhue and direct the same so as to prevent back and lateral flashing, including plates of insulating material mounted directly upon the movable portions of the fixed element and movable with said portions toward and away from each other so as to vary the width of the path aforesaid, the distance between the movable portions of the fixed element being less than the distance between said plates so that the path aforesaid is always open regardless of the movement of the movable portions of the fixed contact relative to each other.

19. In an electric switch, ,a fixed contact element a movablecontact element having means for enga ing the fixed element, an means carried so ely by the fixed element and constructed and arranged to provide a constantly open path in the plane of travel of said movable element for .the are created upon movement of said movable element relative to the fixed element and tending to confine and direct the are so as to prevent lateral and back flashing. 20. In an electric switch, a movable contact element, a fixed contact elementhaving means for receiving a part of the movable element, and means effective upon movement of'the movableelement relative to the fixed element to provide -a path in the plane of travel of the movable element for the are created and tending to confine and direct the same so as to prevent back and lateral flashing, including plates of insulating ma- 24. In an electric switch a pair of substantially parallel plates of insulating ma- :terial having recesses in opposed faces there- In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

JOHN G. J AGKSON. WALLACE T. ALLEN.

terial spaced apart and having means receiving aforesai 21. In an electric switch, a fixed contact having substantially parallel portions provided with inwardly extending open return bent portions having flared portions, and

plates of insulating material between and substantially parallel to the parallel portions of the fixed contact, said plateshaving slots receiving the open return bent portions and having recesses receiving the flared portions aforesaid of said fixed contact.

22. In an electric switch, a 'fixed contact having substantially parallel portions provided with laterally profjecting portions, and are suppressor plates 0 insu ating material between and connected to said parallel portions and having recesses receiving said laterally rojecting portions.

23. 11 an electric switch, a pair of substantially parallel plates of insulating material havin aligned slots and opposed recesses therein, and a fixed contact element having portions within the slots and having 4 portions engaging the recesses so that the (parts of the fixed contact element portionsjust mentioned will be held against displacement from said slots;

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,898,128. February 21, 1933.

JOHN G. JACKSON, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 102, claim 15, for "fastening" read flashing; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the'record oi the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of February, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

